Yi Clan Old House in Namsa-ri, Sancheong

This is the oldest house in Namsa village, built in the 1700s. It is situated on a long, north-south oriented plot of land, with the main building (anchae) and detached buildings (sarangchae, oeyangchae, and gotganchae) arranged in a square formation around the main building.
Upon entering the gate located on the southwestern side of the property, you immediately find yourself in the courtyard. To the north of this courtyard stands the "sarangchae" (main living hall), which measures four bays wide and two and a half bays deep, facing southeast. The roof of the sarangchae is a distinctive "paljak" style, resembling the number eight when viewed from the side.
Located to the south of the "sarangchae" (main living quarters), the "oeyangchan" (stable) consists of three bays wide and one bay deep, and is composed of a stable and a courtyard. To the east of the "sarangchae," there is a "jungmunganchae" (entrance hall) measuring three bays wide and one bay deep, which includes a gatehouse and a courtyard. The entrance to the "jungmunganchae" opens onto the inner courtyard.
Upon entering through the main gate, the main building, with a facade of 7 bays and a side of 2.5 bays, faces southeast. It features one room, two bays of a large hall, two bedrooms, and a veranda of 1 bay width in front of the rooms and the hall. A small closet is located on the back wall. A distinctive feature is the open veranda built against the back wall of the hall.
The "Arachae" building, facing east, was structured with four bays on the front and one and a half bays on the sides. The southern section housed the kitchen, bedrooms, and a large open hall, while the front featured an open veranda. The "Gwangchae" building, facing west, measured three bays on the front and two bays on the sides, with the interior spaces undivided.
This house exhibits a unique layout that is visually complex. Notably, unlike the typical arrangement of kitchens in traditional Korean noble residences, which are usually positioned opposite the ancestral shrine, the kitchen in this house faces the same direction.

(Source: Korea Heritage Service)

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